GREEN MATTERS
As a result, future building projects should be able to use metrics like the amount of embodied carbon, how carbon is being off set, space heating/cooling demand, and more to accurately evaluate net zero carbon performance.
Industry insights The importance of a new standard has been echoed by the wider industry, at a recent Mitsubishi Electric roundtable on the topic.
Jennifer Kelly, Head of Sustainability for Chester Zoo, noted that “it provides a common language for us to understand our own targets and a common language for us to talk to our suppliers and our consultants who work on our built infrastructure so that they understand what we’re aiming for.”
Jake Timothy-Dorward, from QODA Consulting felt that
there would be: “a welcome response from the construction clients as it’s going to give them a clear framework and road map to get to these net zero carbon targets that their own clients are requesting.” Penny McCallum, from BW Workplace Experts explained
that “We’re often asked by clients how we can assist them to achieve their carbon goals. For us a really important requirement is to be consistent in the industry because at the moment, there is no common standard. I think clients will react positively because they’re already asking what it is that they need to do to ensure that they can meet their net zero goals.”
to the built environment in particular – homes, offi ces, shops restaurants and more – we have to take conscious steps to reduce carbon emissions and become more environmentally friendly in order to stay within the limit of 1.5 °C of warming.
A huge amount of work is already being done in this space. The construction industry is working hard to reduce emissions, by using more sustainable materials, factoring in embodied carbon as well as operational carbon in construction projects, and increasing energy effi ciency through modern HVAC equipment and sophisticated controls.
But what is currently lacking is a clear way to track and quantify all this work – and determine if buildings are really reaching ‘net zero’.
The importance of a unifi ed standard A single standard is needed to ensure everyone is ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’, which can also be used by policymakers at national, city and local level when they are looking at planning and building regulations. Developers, contractors, investors, consultants, suppliers and more will be able to better demonstrate that a building is ‘net zero’.
The most important thing about the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard is that it is being collaboratively created by the built environment industry, for the built environment industry. It takes the best from each industry body and builds a common standard for everyone to use in the future.
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A lot of work has already been done on the development of both the Governance and the technical fundamentals of this new standard, and it will be tested this Spring. With such a strong drive to decarbonise the built environment and reach net zero, having one clear standard to support the entire industry will be vital. You can listen to the full podcast by searching for the ‘Ask ME Mitsubishi Electric’ series on your podcast platform.
"I think clients will react positively because they’re already
asking what it is that
they need to do to ensure that they can meet their net zero goals.”
Penny McCallum, BW Workplace Experts
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